Hayao Miyazaki, considered a master of the art, winner of an Oscar for " Spirited Away ," announced his retirement from filmmaking. The revelation came at the Venice Film Festival, where "The Wind Rises," the director's new animated feature, was screened in competition for the Golden Lion. It was made by his producer, Koji Hoshino of Ghibi Studios, who came to represent the production and its creator, alongside actress Miori Takimoto. The announcement took everyone at the Venice festival by surprise. "Miyazaki is an inexhaustible source of energy and still has a lot of energy," the executive from Miyazaki's studio emotionally exclaimed, minutes before announcing the retirement of his great mentor. Miyazaki, who has participated in the Venice Film Festival several times, has decided to retire as a director. He will officially confirm this next week during a press conference in Tokyo. It is unclear whether the decision is an act of protest against the controversy sparked by the new animation, about the designer of Japan's most efficient aircraft during the time the country fought alongside Nazi Germany. The film's domestic box office is one of the best in the history of Studio Ghibli.
Discover some of Miyazaki's works:
-The Wind Rises
-Spirited Away
-My Neighbor Totoro
-Princess Mononoke
-Castle in the Sky
